Movable keel for boats.



No. 663,982. 7 Patentd Dec. 18, I900. I A. E. PRESTON. MOVABLE KEEL FORBOATS.

(Application filed June 11, 1900.)

(No Modal.)

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THE norms PETERS co, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, 11.0.

- UNITED STATES PATENT Gnrrcn.

ALFRED ELEY PRESTON,.OF Loon, ENGLAND.

MovABLE KEEL FOR BOA-rs SEEGIF1GAT1Nforming part of Letters Patentnefeeaesa, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed June 11, 1900. Serial No. 19,899. (No model.)

To all whom it rrbay concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ELEY PRESTON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at St. Georges Island, Looe, Corn wall,England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MovableKeels for Ships,Yachts, Boats, Canoes, and the Like, of whiclrthefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to movable keels for ships, yachts, boats,canoes, and the like, and provides a keel which can be collapsed orextended in a simple mannerand which will present a smooth surface tothe water.

The apparatus comprises three main partstwo arms or plates and a heavyweight connecting them together at the bottom. The two arms carrying theweight are pivoted to fixed parts on the boat, and these pivots areplaced in a line parallel with the points of suspension of the 'weight,the distance between the points and pivots being also equal. The armsand weight thus form a jointed parallelogram which insures the weightmoving parallel to itself, keepingit horizontal in all positions of thearms. The front arm or plate is of considerable width, presenting alarge surface to the water, and this arm is double, allowing the narrowarm to lie within it, the edge presented to the water being rounded andoffering a com parativelysmall resistance.

- Both arms extend above their pivoted points for some distance and areconnected by a link. They are pulled up within the center-boardcase by aWindlass or like device, the rope or chain of which is attached to theupper end of the front plate. On pulling in the keel the parts allcollapse within the centerboard-case, but drop into extended positionwhen released. In order that this invention may be more readilyunderstood, reference is had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, inwhich Figure l-is a longitudinal section of a boat, showing the keel inextended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the keel collapsedwithin the boat. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections showing the keelextended and collapsed, and Fig. 5 is an under side view of the boatwith the keel raised.

A is the main plate or body of the keel, pivoted at a to the boat. Thisplate is doubled, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and its front edge a isclosed, supplying a narrowsmooth edge, which cuts through the water withsmall resistance.

The rear arm or plate B lies within the double plate A, so that it doesnot interfere in any way with the action of the apparatus and does notadd to the resistance. This arm is pivoted at b to the bracket B, whichprojects between the sides of the main plate A, and the pivot 17 is atthe same levelas a, which may also be carried by the bracket B. To thelower end of both arms the weight 0 is attached at the points 0 parallelto a and b and at the same distance apart. The points a, b, c, and 0thus form a parallelogram, and as theseare all pivots the arms cancollapse or extend, keeping the weight 0 always horizontal. The weight 0is sufficient to keep this keel fully extended against the force of thewater through which the boat. D is moving, or it may be fixed down by amovable pin in the centerb0ard-case.

Both arms or plates A and B are extended at a and 1) into thecenterboard-case d, and they are connectedv together at their upper endsby the link E, and the rope or chain F is attached to the upper end ofthe plate A,

passing to a winch f. By this means the keel is collapsed within thecenterboard-case d, as shown especially in Figs. 2 and l, while it canbe lowered fully or to any intermediate position by the same means.

The apparatus can be entirely removed from the boat through thecenterboard-case, which may be open at the top, or it may be removedfrom the bottom of the boat, as found most convenient.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. An improved movable keel for boats, comprising a large double frontplate pivoted at the bottom of the boat, a second arm or plate alsopivoted lying between the sides of the front plate, a weight connectingboth plates at the lower end forming with their pivots a jointedparallelogram, and means 'for collapsing the keel within thecenterboard-case, substantially as described and for the purposesspecified.

2. In a movable keel for boats, the combination of a double plate Apivoted at a, a pivoted plate B lying within the double plate, thebracket B to which the plate B is fitted,

my invention Ihave signed my name in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

ALFRED ELEY PRESTON.

Witnesses:

F. O. POLGLASE, JAMES HOLLOCOMBE.

the weight 0 attached to the plates A and B at the points 0, the link Econnecting the plates at their upper ends and connections to the upperends of the plates by which the 5 keel can be collapsed within the boat,substantially as herein described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as l

